Truss pad



R. E. HAESLY Oct. 14, 1952 TRUSS PAD Filed July 24, 1950 INVENTOR. 55mg;

FUdUL j Patented Oct. 14, 19 52 I TRUSS PAD Rudolph E. Haesly, Davenport, Iowa Application July 24, 1950, Serial No. 175,541

18. Claims. (01. 12s ,119)

This invention relates to a truss pad for use in the treatment of herniae, particularly those that occur in the inguinal region.

A principal object ofthe invention is to'provide an improved truss pad provided as a, covered plate having a gently sloping portion in the form of a ramp or hump designed to lienearly flat over the inguinal ring, holding the rupture, or

hernia, in, and closing the body opening. The

hump or ramp is shaped so as to lie above the pubic bone, the center rectus abdominalis and Pouparts ligament. The plate is designed to furnish a nearly flat surface over the inguinal ring, with a surrounding area to rest on the body to assist carrying varying strains caused by body movements. The plate isheld to the body in a manner likened to a universal hinge which permits it to move in all directions with the body, and at the same time, maintain even pressure at the hinged point; under extreme body movement, this point will move with the body; when the body again returns to its normal position, the plate follows; during these movements, an even pressure has been maintainedover the rupture. The pressure applied at the rupture, or hernia, is always uniform, it being governed by thesurrounding flat area of the plate which rests on the body. and the stiffness of the spring. Under extreme body movements, such as sneezing or coughing,

the plate will move withthe body by tipping from' the top, which brings the lower point of the plate tighter to the pubic bone, thereby preventing escapement of the intestine; when again returning to normal position, the plate having first and strongest pressure at the point of fastening, will return to position in a manner likened to a closing door, thereby pushingthe intestine back in, if it has passed through the inguinal opening.

A further object is to provide a truss pad that may be simply, easily and economically manufactured, preferably of sheet metal or other relatively thin, substantially rigid or stiff material. A still further object is to provide a pad having a removable cover of resilient cushioning material, such as foam rubber.

A still further object is to providea mounting for the pad comprising a light spring secured to the rear or reverse face of the pad at the base portion thereof and permitting movement of the plate in all directions, and applies a preferred inward pressure at the point of fastening. When the wearer is sitting, the spring permits the plate to follow the changed shape of the body over the area of the pubic bone, thereby avoiding what otherwise wouldbe. discomfort. The spring is structurally and'functionally balancedat each side of the median line of the pad. Specifically, it is another object to mount the spring on the pad in a novel manner so that the spring is pre'-- vented from pivoting relative to the pad and relative to the brace or girdle on which the pad is mounted. Q

The foregoing-and other important objects and desirable features inherent inand encompassed by the invention will become apparent a s-' thedisclosure of a preferred embodiment of themvention is fullymade in the following detailed description and annexed sheet of drawings. 7

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view'of the obverse or front face of the completely assembled pad, being shown at substantially actual size. r I V Figure 2 is a view'of the pad from its rev face.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken" line 3-3 of Figure l; y g

Figure 4 is an obverse face'view-of the truss plate by-itse1f.

Figure 5 is a'perspective sectional View taken on the line 5--5 of-Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional View tale ts the" line 6-43 of Figure 2, being drawn to substantially double the scale of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a'sectional View, drawn "to double scale, taken on the line l-'1 of Figure 2.1

Figure 8 is a view' of the mounting, spring by itself. I Figure 9 is across sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 4. l

The truss pad comprises essentially three basic elements: a circular plate or base member Ill, mounting means [2 and a removable covering pad l4. Each of these components is made up of iniportant and novel details, as will be set out below."

The base member or plate I 0 is preferably cir cular and-is preferably formed of light weight,

substantially thin and relatively stiff material such as stainless steel or thelike; Before forming, the plate is flat and after being formed it has risin from the obverse face thereof a ,concavde" convex crown iii of such shape as to'be substaiii, tially symmetrical at opposite sides of a median, plane passed through a diameter ofthe'circ'ular L plate, which median plane maybe taken as repre-jfsented by the line 5-5 in Figure On the oth rf, hand, the crown is asymmetrical at'oppdsite sid 's of a plane transverse; and perpendic'ulargto' median plane; the transverse plane'isireprese by the line'99 in Figure 4."

The general position i the pad when worn is that shown. Therefore, the plate has upper and lower marginal edge portions l8 and 20. The crown begins adjacent the edge portion I8 and slopes gradually outwardly as a ramp 22, blending into or adjoining a rounded peak 24 below the plane 99 or at th side of the plane 96 opposite the edge portion l8, and extending thence relatively abruptly downwardly as a relatively steep wall 26, to adjoin the marginal edge portion 20 along substantially a straight line 28. The crown when viewed from the front lies within a. circle 30 and is itself substantially circular except for the portion in the zone of the steep wall 26 and straight line 28 and except for opposite somewhat straight portions 3| tangent to the circle and providing for line contact with vertical muscles and fibers in the area of the hernia. The areas 20-26-28 provid in effect a trans verse hinge in the pubic region, with the peak 24 always holding the hernia. In other words, the straight line 28 may beconsidered a chord of the circle defining the base of the crown. The circle 36 and straight portions 28 and 3| also define the junction of the crown with that substantially circular portion of theplate that forms a marginalor bordering flange 32 surrounding or encircling the crown. This marginal flange is substantially fiat and all portions thereof, including the marginal portions l8 and 20 are preferably 912 333 Stated briefly, the generalposition of the crown I6 is eccentric or offset relatively to the geometrical center of the marginal flange portion 32. Therefore, the radial extent of the marginal portion I8 is substantially less than the radial extent of the marginal portion 20 as measured between the base of the crown and the circular periphery of the plate. Therefore, the marginal portion 20 provides a bas portion or zone of substantial area below or adjoining the relatively steep wall 26 which itself is of substantial area. In use and when covered by the cushioning material M, the pad rests in the region of the hernia and contacts the front and top of the pubic bone region for support thereon.

The cushioning pad or cover is preferably formed as a disk 34 of rubber or equivalent material having a peripheral flange 36 which defines an interior annular groove 36. The diameter of this groove is substantially equal to the outside diameter of themember l and, because of the elasticity of the annular flange 36, the covering pad may be easily assembled on or removed from the plate. The obverse face of the covering pad I 4 has adhered thereto by any suitable method a layer 40 of foam rubber or equivalent material having soft cushioning properties. The removability of the coveringpad is important, since it enables theuser to substitute new or different covers'when the original one becomes worn .or is drying after being removed and washed.

The reverse face of the base or marginal portion is provided with a first mounting element 42 preferably formedby-a recess or depression 44 pressed in the front or obverseface of the base portion. This mounting element 42 servesas means for mounting at the reverse face of the member or plate ,I 0, spring means 46 formingthe basic element of the mou'nting means I2. The spring is shown by itself in Figure 8 and is preferably in th form of a wire shaped as shown to provide a pair of lower mounting portion or eyes 48 and 50 and a central mounting portion or eye 52. The spring is formed withapair of loops 54 and 56. extending respectively from th lower eyes 48 and '50 toward the central eye 52, joining the eye 52 respectively in a pair of reverse bends 58 and 60 spaced apart to define a relatively nar row throat 62. The loop portions 5458 and 5660 are structurally balanced at opposite sides of a straight line drawn through the eye 52 and; centrally between the eyes 48 and 50.

The mounting element 42 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 64 and integral portions of the material of the mounting element are formed into short sleeves 66 (Figure 7) over which the eyes 48 and of the spring 46 are respectively centered. A pair of screws 68 are passed through a double apertured washer 16, through the apertured sleeves '66 and into a re-- taining member 12 which has a pair of spaced threaded bores therein. The means just described thus securely anchors the lower portion of the spring 46 on the mounting element 42 of the reverse side of the base portion 20 of the plate I0.

As will be best seen inFigures 2 and 3, all portions of the spring 46 are coplanar and the extent of the spring is substantially coextensive with the cavity or recess formed by the. concave shape of th reverse face of the crown l6. The eye 52 of the spring. is substantially centered with respect to the center of the concavity of the crown. This eye serves as means for the mounting of a second-mounting element here in the form of an elongated member 14 provided with a. central tapped bore which receives a, screw 76 passed through the eye 52 of the spring. For the purpose of mounting the assembly on a brace or girdle, the member 14 has a pair of tapped bores for respectively receiving a pair of screws 78 and 80, one. above and one below the screw 16. A complementary member 82 may cooperate with the member 74 for the type of mounting referred to. The upper screw- 18 passes through the. throat 62 between the reverse bendsr58 and 5.5 of the spring 46 (Figures 3 and 6), thus restraining relative pivotingbetween the spring 46 and the member 14 about the center screw 16;

As is best apparent inFigure 3, the disposition of the spring 46 is such that it lies, closely parallel to the plane of thereverse face of, the; plate [0, resulting in a reduction in the over-all thickness of theassembly. Because, of the configuration of the spring, the mounting is resiliently balanced,

and is arranged for appropriate fiexure relative to the mounting elements 74 and 42. For example, the pad assembly is capable of fiexure equally in either direction about an axis coincident with a straight line drawn through the eye 52 and centrallybetween the eyes Hand 50. Be-

cause of the length of the loops, 54 and 56 and the reverse bends 58 and 66, desirableresiliencyis permitted about anaxis transverse to th axis just referred to. i i I Since the assembly comprises relatively few parts of simpleyet effective. design, the costof production will be relatively low] Eachcomponent itself is of simple design and, are .cooperatively associated to produce the greatest aidand comfort to the user.

Other features and advantages .of. the invention not specifically enumerated hereinwill-undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as likewise willv numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined, in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of the class described, comprising: a circular plate .of relatively stiff material presenting obverse and reverse faces and having a concavo-convex crown rising from its obverse face so that the crown is bordered by a substantially radial flange; the junction of said flange and the base of the crown lying substantially uniformly on a circle except for a portion that lies substantially on a chord of such circle; the position of the crown on the plate being such that the radial extent of the flange is substantially uniform ex- .cept at said chord portion whereat it is appreciably greater to provide a substantial base area; the shape of the crown being such that it rises abruptly. as a relatively steep wall from said base area to a rounded peak and slopes thence back as a gradual ramptoward the circular portion of the junction of the flange with the base of the crown; means on the reverse face of the base area providing a mounting element; a spring lying generally in a plane parallel to the reverse face of the radial flange and anchored to said mounting element and extending to a zone substantially coincident with the center of the concavity of the crown at said reverse face; and a second mounting element secured to the spring in said zone and spacedfrom the plate so as to be normally out of contact with the plate.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the spring has a loop lying in the plane of thespring and said loop is so shaped and positioned as to lie substantially within the reverse side of the circular portion of the crown-flange junction.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the spring is of the wire type having opposite ends anchored to the first mounting element in close proximity to each other and has the portion thereof intermediate its ends formed as a pair of loops looped outwardly in opposite directions to either side of a straight line drawn through both mounting elements, said loops meeting in said zone in an eye for carrying the second mounting portion.

4. An article of the class described, comprising:

a plate of relatively stiif material presenting'obverse and reverse sides and having a concavoconvex crown rising from its obverse face, a portion of the plate bordering the crown providing a flange normal to the altitude of the crown and having obverse and reverse surfaces; means on the reverse surface of said flange providing a first mounting element; a second mounting element at the reverse face of the plate and located substantially centrally of and out of contact with the concavity of the crown and spaced from the first mounting element generally in a plane parallel to the reverse face, of the plate; and spring means anchored to the first mounting element and extending toward and connected to the second mounting element for resiliently sustaining said second mounting element, said spring means in extent being within the marginal edges of the plate.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, further characterized in that: the spring means includes a loop substantially coplanar with the mounting elements, and said loop is substantially within the margin of the base of the crown.

6. The invention defined in claim 4, further characterized in that: the first mounting element has a pair of fasteners spaced apart in the plane of the elements at opposite sides of a straight line drawn between said elements; and the spring free-end secured to one of said fasteners, and I saidloops being'joined by an intermediatepor- 5 tion connected to and for sustaining said second ,element. .3 1 1 7. The invention defined in claim 6, further characterized in, that: said-intermediate s ring meansportion between the-loops is in the form 10 of an eye; a single fastener passes through said ,eye to effect the connection of the spring means Qtothe second mounting element; and said second mounting element has means thereon .engageable with. the spring means adjacent to but spaced from the eye to preventpivoting of said mounting element relative to the spring about said single fastener. .1

8. An article of the class described, comprising: a circular plate of relatively stiff material having a concavo-convex crown rising therefrom within the periphery thereof so thatsaid crown is bordered by a'substantially flat radial flange; the junction of said flange and'thelbase of the crown lying substantially uniformly on a circle except for aportion that lies substantially on a chord of, such. circle;3-the position of the crown on the plate being such that the;'radial extent of the flange is substantially uniform except at said chord portion whereatit is appreciably greater to provide asubstantial base area; and the shape of the crown being such thatit rises abruptly as a relatively steep wallfrom said base area to a rounded peak and slopes thence back as a gradual ramp toward the. circular portion of the junction of the flange with the base of the crown.

9. An article of the class described, comprising: a circular plate of relatively stiff material having a concavo-convex crown rising therefrom inside the peripherythereof so that said crown is surroundedbya marginal flange lying substantially in a radial plane; saidcrown. being symmetrical at opposite sides of a median-plane through a diameter of the plate and perpendicular to said radial plane, butasymmetrical at opposite sides of a third plane perpendicular to both the radial and median planes and drawn through a second diametereof the; plate, the shape of the crown as viewed in section along said median plane being such that the crown adjoins and slopes out- 50 wardly as a gradual ramp away from the marginal flange at one side of said third plane to a rounded peak at the other side of said third plane and extends thence relatively abruptly inwardly as a relatively steep wall to adjoin the marginal flange at said other side ofsaid third plane.

10. An article of the class described, comprising: a circular member having a crown rising] from one face thereof within the periphery thereof so that the crown is bordered by a substantially flat radial flange; the junction of said flang and the base of the crown lying substantially uniformly on a circle except for a portion that lies substantially on a chord of such circle; the position of the crown on the member being such that the radial extent of the flange is substantially uniform except at said chord'portion Whereat it is appreciably greater to provide a substantial base area; and the shape of the crown being such that it rises abruptly as a relatively steep wall from said base area to a rounded peak and slopes thence back as a gradual ramp toward the circular portion of the junction of the flange with the base of the crown.. I i i f 11. An 'articleof the class described, compris- 75 ing: a circular member having a crown rising therefrom'inside the periphery thereof so that said crown :is surrounded by a marginal flange lying substantially in'wa radial plane; said crown being symmetrical at opposite sides'of a median plane through a diameter ofthe plate and perpendicular to said radial plane, but asymmetrical at opposite sides of a third plane perpendicularto both the radial and-medianplanes and drawn through a second diameter of the plate,the shape of the crown as viewed in section along said median plane beingsuch 'that the crown adjoins and slopes outwardly as a gradual ramp away from a first portion of the-marginal flange at one side of said third plane to a 'roundedpeak' at the other side of said third-"plane and extendsthence relatively abruptly inwardly as a relatively steep wall having its bottom adjoining a diametrically opposed second portion of themarginal flange at said other side of said third plane, said diametrically opposed portion of the marginal flange being of greater length than said first portion of the marginal flange to provide a substantial base area at said bottom of the relatively steep wall.

12. An article of the class desbribed',comprising: a main body having firstand second opposite marginal edge portions lying/substantiallyin the same plane and further-having' a crown rising above said plane intermediate said marginal edge portions, the shape of the crown being such that it slopes upwardly as a gra'dual'ramp from the firstmarginal edge portion in the direction toward the second marginal edge portion, terminating short of -said second marginal'edgeportion in a rounded peak, and extending down:-

wardly relatively abruptly from said rounded peak toward and adjoining saidsecond' marginal edge portion as a relativelyxsteepwall,'and"said second marginal edge portion extending :in'said plane'away from the junction-thereofwith said relatively steep wall a greateradistance than the extent of said first marginaledge portion from its junction with: the ramp of the crown-so as to present a substantiallygreater'planar:area adjoining said relatively steep wail. I J

13. The inventiondefined inclaim 12, further characterized in that: the crown is sloped substantially symmetrically in. opposite directions transverse to the slope of the ramp and downwardly 'toward the plane of-the marginal edge portions; and said body has third and fourth marginal' edge portions coplanar with the first and.

second marginal edge portions and respectively adjoining the symmetrical slop'esof the crown.

1A. A.-truss pad, comprising: a body member of relatively stiff material having obverse and re.- versefaces and defined by marginaledges; means providing a mounting element on the reverse face.

adjacent one marginal edge portion; a second mounting element at the reverse face spaced from and substantially coplanar with the first mounting element and located out of contact with the body member and substantially centrally as respectsall said marginal edges; and spring means extending between and having spaced portions therieoffixed respectively to the mountingtele-e merits; said spring means comprising an: el'ongated: element curled into..a,.plurality of loops formed respectively. about aplurality of axes. perpendicular to. the. plane of -the, mounting ele-.

ments,.said loops being substantially balanced at either side of a straight line drawn through the. mounting elements; j- 1 15; A truss pad, comprising: abody member of relatively ,s tiil. m:aiterial having-obverse and reverse faces anddefinedby-marginal edges; means" providing a mounting element on the reverse face adjacent one marginal edge portion; a second mounting element at the reverse face spaced from and substantially coplanar with the first mounting element and located. out of contact with the body member and substantially centrallyias respects allsaid marginal edges; and spring means extending between and having spaced portions thereof fixed respectively to the mounting elements-.1

16. Atruss pad, comprising: a body member of relativelystifl material having obverse and reverse facesand defined by marginal edges; means providing amounting element on the reverse face adjacentona-marginal edge portion; a second mounting element atthe reverse face spaced from,,and substantially coplanar with the first mounting elementand located out of contact with the body member and substantially centrallyas respects all, said marginal edges; and spring means extending between and having spaced portions thereof fixed respectively to the mounting elements, said spring means comprising an elongated element curled into a loop formed about .an axisperpendicular to the plane of the mounting elements.

17. Atruss pad, comprising: a body of relatively stifimaterial throughout and having an annular peripheral flange, said fiange being sub stantially fiat and extendinginwardly toward the centenof the body; said body further having a cromi risinggfrom the flange inwardly of the flange peripheryand including annular contiguous wall portions rising from the flange at different angles to the flange 'and meeting and blending into a rounded peakofiset transversely of the fiange so as to lie asymmetrically relative to the flange periphery; and ,a cover of resilient elastic material of. normally uniform elasticity having an annular-edge secured to the flange periphery and stretched over the peak of the crown so that the interior surface of said cover contacts thebody at only said peak and said flange periphery and lies out of contact with the body intermediate said peak and flange periphery; said asymmetrical offset of: the peak relative to the. flan'ge periphery and said different angles of the .\va1l portions relative to the flange providing interior spaces of different shapes between the body and the interiorsurface of the cover.

18. The invention defined in claim 17, further characterized in that: one of said wall portions of the crown is. at, a relatively steep angle to the adjoining flange 'portion; and said adjoining flange; portion is oflgreater area than other fiange' portions adjoining other wall portions so as to' providethereat a greater space for inward iyieldinghof the immediately overlying cover porron.

' [.I aunonen. E. HAESLY.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the file of'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number V 2,372,010.. .-R9lW' 'Mar. 20, 1945 

